Lever system



July 9, 1935.

W. GUMPRICH LEVER SYSTEM Filed March l0, 1952 5 Sheets-Shea?I l July 9, 1935. w GUMPRIC 2,@w94

LEVER SYSTEM Filed March lO, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 A N N WL D w rw' D LL, k

@s i g 1503i LVM-lj NLLUIHVA FIGL July 9, 1935. W GUMPRICH Z,7,394

LEVER SYSTEM Patented July 9', 1935 UNITED g STATES PATENT OFFICE LEVER SYSTEM poration of New York Application March 10, 1932, Serial No. 597,956

13 claims. l(C1. 265-11) This case relates to Weighing scales and particular'ly to the connected levers thereof. .y The object of the invention is to provide improved means and methods of connecting levers so that the errors due to rotational movements of the levers will be a minimum.

More specifically, the object of the invention is to provide a connection between a pair of vlevers which will transmit the force from one lever to the other with the minimum of error for al1 positions of the levers. n

Another object is to have the fixed load on a backweight lever, or the like, act on the lever v with a minimum of variation resulting from angular movement of the lever.

Various other objects and advantages of my invention will be obvious from the following particular description of one form of mechanism embodying the inventionor from an inspection of the accompanying drawings; and the invention also constitutes certain new and novel features of construction and combination of parts hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side view of the base levers of the scale in mid-position and indicating the range and force lines.

Fig. 2 is a diagram of the range and force lines of Fig. l. i

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the parts in diiferent positions.

Fig. 4 is a graph of the variations from normal in the structure of the present invention under different loading conditions.

Fig. 5 is a graph of such Variations under prior practice.

Fig. 6 is a view of the main lever or long lever connected to a short auxiliary lever as in Fig. 1 and also connected to the backweight lever in mid-position,

Fig. 7 is a diagram of the force lines and forces at mid-position between the long lever and the backweight lever, shown in Fig. 6, and

Fig. 7a is a detail diagrammatic view of vsome of the elements of Fig. 7 at zero load position.

Fig. 8 is a rear end view of the main and backweight levers.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2, and 3 let The simple trigonometric relation between w and w is:

wzwcos a where a is the angle between the line joining the pivots I2 and I6 and a line perpendicular to the force line a.

The moment M of w' on lever B may be expressed yas:

wZ cos 0 where 0=the angle between the force line b and a line perpendicular to the line joining pivots I2 and I6.

If in M :w'l cos 0, We substitute for w' its value w cos a, we get M=lw cos a cos 6.

The moment of `1 may be taken as equal to the moment of w or FL= M or M FTL- 1W F- cos a cos In Figs. 1 and 2, the levers are in mid-position, that is if the levers swing through a total are of. 8 from zero load to full load, then the levers are shown after they have swung from no load position through an arc of 4. As shown in Figs. l and 2, when the levers are in mici-position the line joining pivots I2 and I6 is perpendicular to both the force line a of the auxiliary lever A and the force line b of the main lever B. In this case both a and 6 are zero.

- and as indicated in Fig. 4. 65.V

fulcrums of the levers. and I6 is no longer perpendicular to lines 'a' and b as may be seen from Fig. 3.

Assume that a now equals 3- and 0 equals Il"v then F=- W cos 3 cos 4 cos 30:.9986

cos 40:.9976

Assume now the load i increases so the levers move down vthe same amount as, in the previous example, they moved up upon decrease of the load. Again, the pivots i2 and IB willmove apart laterally from the positions shown in Figs. 1 and 2 as they describe arcs about the lever fulcrums.

Assume that thusn whichever' way that theflevers -move`from ltheir mid-position, the angles a and 0 increase from 0 since the line joining the pivots I2Y and I6 departs from the perpendicular to lines a and b.

I1" the scale be of a 500 pound capacity, and fully loaded, w will equal approximately .1/5 of W which is 250 since only half the load is transmitted tothe lever A or 112:50. Y

Further ijfV Z=approximately of then .h2-consiga? or variation in F from mid-position to `'fullload position equals i 2-15(5o)(.oos s) =o.o761bs.

The curve of variations will be approximately In the prior art, at no load or zero position, connection between the levers was at right angles to the line joining the connecting points to the fulcrums on the force lines. .'I'hus,4 Fig.Y 1 may represent the levers and connectionsfbetween them at zero load position as known to the prior As the levers departedl from Zero position, the line joining them would also depart from the perpendicular to the lines a and b but the de -parture would increase progressively'from Zero lThe line joining pivots I2A load to maximum load, since under any load Aabove zero, the levers move downward.

We have found that Z F-w cos a cos 0 Thus at mid-load in a 500 pound capacity scale, assume a:3 and 6:4o then the variation from zero position will be variation in F=W(.0038) since at mid-load V W:1/2 250 -125 then 111:25 and variation in F=2-1 ,3 25(.ooss)=.oss

At full load assume u:6 and then cos a: .9945

- cos 0:.994-5 cos a cos 0:.9890

or variation* cos a cos 0 from zero-load:.011 Now at full load 10:50 or The curve of` variations will be approximately as shown in Fig 5.

The difference in maximum variation in forceY transmitted to the draft rod 2li between applicants construction and previous practice is thus the difference between .076 and .22 equal to 0.144.

In other words, by arranging and locating the;- levers, their pivots, and link i8 so that the linejoining pivots l2 and i6 is perpendiculark to force transmissionlinesa and b of levers A and B respectivelygat mid-load position, the maximumvarian tion is .144 pounds less than under the prior prac-r tice whe're the link equivalent to I3 is placed at right angles to the force lines of the levers when the latter are in zero position.

It will be noted from Fig. 4 that in applicants scheme an averagevariation of about .035 may be determined and that this variation will be approximately the true variation for all the load positions of the scale, whereas under known prior practice, the average variation will be quite different from the true variation as theV load ap-V proaches` a maximum. VIt is thus possible to seal out applicants scale to greater exactness thanscales of prior construction.v Y x v Y `Fig. 6 shows the longV or main lever B.-Vcon nected to the short auxiliary lever A as in Fig. l and also connected to' a back-weighting leverC.

The lever C is connected to the nose end of the lever B to Vcounteract the dead weight of the platform parts andA levers and exclude the dead weight from the weighing calculation. As the rightlhand arm of the lever C isy shorter than the right hand'arm of the lever B, the levers do not swing through the same angles and to prevent binding of the levers against theirfzfulcrums,` they are connected .through means which includes a link 32. YThe link'32 permits the levers B and C to swingthrough different angles without binding. As shown in Fig. 8, the nose iron or pivot 30 oflever C is connected through link32 Yto pivot 34 Vof lever-B rwhich is at the samedistance from fulcrum 26 of lever B as thenose pivot 35 of lever B which isconnected to draft rod 36.

The backweighting force of lever C is supplied by weight 40 on arm 33 of the lever C. The resulting force transmitted by the lever C to lever B is not constant, as is ideally desired, but varies with the angle of the link 32 relative to the force lines of the levers in relation to the link. To determine the variation at diierent load positions from the force which should be transmitted by link 32 to lever B asa resultoithe force applied to lever C, let

Wc=the force applied to lever C as by weight 40,

wc=the resulting pull at pivot 30 acting perpendicularly to a line passing through the fulcrum 3T of the lever C and the bear? ing point of pivot 3U, this line being termed the force line' c,

wb=the pull of lever C on pivot 34 transmitted through connecting link 32,

L=the distance between the fulcrum 20 of the lever B andthe nose iron 35, 1

l=the distance between the fulcrum 20 of the lever B and the pivot 34 which is the point of connection of link 32 to lever B,

d=the force line passing through the fulcrum of lever B and said point of connection at 34,

F=pull on draft rod 36,

a=the angle between the line joining the pivot 30 and 34 and a line perpendicular to the force line c,

0=the angle between the line perpendicular to the line joining pivots 30 vand 34 and the force line d;

The trigonometric relationships of the forces are similar to the previous case explained in connection with Fig. 1.

w'bzwc cos u and the moment M of wb on lever B is wbl cos 0 or lwc cos a cos 0; also, since F'L=M' B and C at zero position is equal to .18 pounds.

In a scale wherein the levers A, B, and C are combined, the sum of the difference between maximum variations of the force transmitted to the draft rod between applicants and construc.-

tions according to prior principles is equal to .144 and .18 or .324 pound. Thus for an approximately 500 pound capacity scale, applicants construction is .324 pound more accurate at the draft point at :lull capacity than scales constructed on previous principles.

While I have selected for examples certain capacities of scales and certain changes in angu lar relation between the link joining the lever and the force lines of these levers, it is obvious that the pull at the draft point in applicants construction becomes greater or less in proportion when the capacity of the scale is greater or less. In principle, however, applicants construction always gives a minimum variation.

' In Fig. l it will be noted that lever C at midloadvposition has the weight carrying arm 33 extending horizontally. Thus as the lever C moves upward or downward upon reduction or increase of load as the case may be, the clownward pull of the weights such as 40 on arm 38 varies from a normal at mid-load position in accordance with the angle the weights make with a vertical line. The maximum variation of angles between 38 and a horizontal line is about half that it would be if 38 were horizontal at the no-load position and progressively moved upward to a maximum load position. Since by making arm 38 of applicants device horizontal at mid-load position the variation in eective grav itational pull of weights 40 due to change in angularity of said arm is about half that it would be if arm 38 were horizontal at zero position, it is much easier to seal out the error due to said changes in angularity of arm 38.

While there has been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of F=wc cos a cos 0 obtained of transmitting the full backweight force of lever C to lever B. Assume that the lever B moves upward to substantially zero position upon the decrease of load so that the angle a becomes 3 and the angle 0 becomes 4 then F=wc cos 3 cos 4 or F=wc(.9962). Thus if w is equal to 25 pounds then F=24.905 and the variation between the normal pull F' of 25 pounds at midposition and the pull F at approximately zero position of lever B is equal to .095.

When the lever B moves to its substantially full load position then u and 0 will again be equal to about 3 and 4 and again the variation between F at mid-load position and full load position will be .095. If Fig. 6 showed the position at zero instead of at mid-load postion, then at full load position of lever B a and 0 would each be approximately 6 and F would equal 25( .989) or the variation between F' at full load position and zero position would equal 25(.011) :.2'75.

The difference in maximum variations between applicants construction wherein the line joining pivots 30 and 34 is at right angles to the force lines of the levers B and C at mid-position and a. construction wherein the line joining pivots 3l] and 34 is at right angles to the force lines of levers the invention as applied to a single modification, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the device illustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in the art Without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is the intention therefore to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the following claims.

` I claim:

l. In a scale of a particular capacity, a main lever and an auxiliary lever movable in common from zero to full load positions and a connecting element from the auxiliary lever to the main lever extending effectively perpendicular to the line joining the connection of the element with the auxiliary lever and the fulcrum of the latter when the auxiliary lever is in mid-position.

2. In a scale, a movable load-responsive lever, a backweight lever for resisting such movement, and a link connection between said levers, said link extending effectively perpendicular to the force lines of said levers at mid-load position, the force line of each lever being a line joining the fulcrum of this lever with the point of connection of this lever with the link.

3. In a scale having a load support, a lever movable in response to a load on said support, an auxiliary lever for exerting a force on the first-mentioned lever, and a connection between said levers for transmitting the force of the auxiliary lever to the first-mentioned lever at a point of the latter substantially at the nose or power end thereof, said connection being effectively perpendicular to the force lines of said levers at mid-load position, theforce line of each lever being a line joining' the fulcrum of this lever with` the point offenga'gem'entof this lever with said connection.V 1

V4. In a scale, apair of levers havingv a predetermined arc. oftravel, and a connecting element between the levers extending eifectively perpendicular to the line joining the fulcrum` of one of the levers with the point of connection of the element to said one of the levers when the levers are in mid-position. i

5. .In a scale, a pair of levers movable from a zero to a full load position and a connecting ele.- ment between the levers extending perpendicular tothe lines joining the ulc'rum of each lever-with` the point of connection thereof with the said` element when the levers are mid-way between zero and full load position. Y

6. In a scale, aload-responsive main lever, a platform having a pivoted support on the lever, a draft rod connectedV to the latter and urged in vone direction thereby, and an auxiliary ,backweighting lever below the platform andextending longitudinally in the same direction as the main lever for urging. said draft rod in the oppo-v site direction, and a link connection between the backweighting lever and the end of the Vmain lever connected to the draftrod, said levers hav-` ing diiferent lengths of arms between'their fulcrums and their pointsr of connection with the link whereby the Vlevers rock through different angles, thelink connection permitting the levers to rock through different angles without binding of the levers against their fulcrums. Y

7. In a scale such as dened in claim 6, said link connection extending perpendicular to the force lines of said levers when the levers are in mid position the force line ofeach lever being a line joining the fulcrum of this lever with the point of connection of this lever with the link.

8v. In a scale having a lever movable under the influence of the load, an auxiliary lever for resisting such, movement of the first-mentioned lever, said auxiliary lever having a weighted arm extending horizontally at mid-load position whereby the effective gravitational force of the weighted arm varies equally upon movement of said Y lever clockwise or counterclockwisej. Y

9. In a scale, a pair of levers with their longi-Y tudinal axes extending in the same direction and having a'predet'ermiiied arcV of travel, and aconnecting element between them for transmitting the: force of one' leverHto'the-vother, the' force lines of said levers being vparallel to each other when the levers' arelin mid-position,"the force line vof each lever beinga line joining the fulcrum of this lever with'the point'of connection of this lever-.with said connection element, said connecting element extending eiectively perpene dicular to theforce lines -atsaidmid-position.l

10.'In .a scale, a pair of 'load responsive` levers having a predetermined a'ic offtravel from zero to full load, a link connectingsaid levers,vsaid link extending 'effectively perpendicular to the'force lines of said'l levers 'at an intermediateV load'position, the force line of Veach lever being a line joining the fulcrum ofthisleverwith its point of connection to the link. j y 1 f 1l. In a scale,1 al load support, aV ,pair ofgenerally `horizontally extending levers, connections from opposite ends of ,aforesaid load support to said levers 'at equal distances from the lever fulcrums to provide equal" load arms', each Ylever therebyhaving an equal part in sustaining said support, and anoperatingY `connection between the levers extending effectively perpendicular'. to the force lines'o'f 'said levers atthe'mid-load positions of the levers.

l2. In a scale, a load support, a pair of generallyV horizontally extending levers fulcrumed to rock in opposite rotational direc'ztioiis, connections from the opposite ends of the load support to the levers at equal distances from the lever fulcrums toprovide equal load moment arms of the levers for sustaining said support, and an operatinglink connection between equal power arms of the levers extending effectively perpendicular to the: force lines of the levers at substantially the mid-load positions of the levers. r

13. In a scale, a goods platform, a pair of generally horizontally extending leversfulcrumed to rock in opposite rotational direction, connections from the opposite ends of theplatform to the levers at equal distances from the lever Vulcrums to providee'qual loadmoment armsof the levers below the platform for supporting the platform, and an operating connection between equal power arms of said levers extending eectively perpendicular to the force lines of the levers at substantially themid-load positions; of the levers.

' WILLIAM GUM'PRICH. 

